Starforce Stories

Christmas

Today's Pic: Vers looking out her apartment window at the view of Hala.

Also, it's worth noting (I guess) that this is a Christmas special. Merry Christmas, everyone!

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One Hala Day, Vers was snuggled into one of the niches in the Helion's walls, scrolling through a holo-book on her wrist display. A blanket was tucked over her and she had a coffee in one hand.

Att-Lass walked by carrying a big stack of wood. "Whatcha reading, Vers?"

She looked up. "The Fault in Our Galaxies, of course!"

He paused. "That one's boring."

"Is not!" she argued. "It's very compelling. And sad."

"Whatever. I thought you had mastered your 'no emotions' training by now," replied Att-Lass, stopping to grab a ration bar from his locker.

"Well, I pretend that I've mastered it. But don't tell Yon-Rogg that," she answered, sipping her mug.

Att-Lass rolled his eyes. "Okay, why don't you come outside and see the shed I'm building?"

"Shed?" she questioned, closing down her book.

"Yeah, I'm building it myself so I can store my speeder bike in the same hangar as the Helion," he said, hefting his wood pile.

"Well, okay. But someone is probably going to steal it," she said and followed him out.

It was a pretty brisk afternoon on Hala. The sun was dimmed and the sky was an ugly dirty snow color. Snow itself was coming down in moderate amounts, swept into the entrance of the hangar by a light wind.

Att-Lass walked Vers over to the far right side, where three walls of a rickety-looking wooden shack had been put up.

"Pretty great, right?" he asked, beaming.

Vers poked one of the posts and instantly got a splinter. "Uh...yeah. It's awesome."

"Yes, it's good for him to be branching out and using his creative muscles," said Yon-Rogg, coming up behind them. He too had a mug of coffee.

"Hey! Coffee pals!" yelled Vers and clinked her mug with his.

Minn-Erva, Korath, and Bron-Char were spread out around the hangar, sweeping, tidying up, and doing some winter cleaning. Minn-Erva turned upon hearing Vers yelling weird stuff and gave her a trademark annoyed look. Yon-Rogg rolled his eyes lightly and sipped his mug. Att-Lass began putting up the final wall of his shed.

Just then Vers spat out her coffee. Yon-Rogg leaned to the side so that it missed his face by millimeters.

"CHRISTMAS!!" shouted Vers, so loud that some birds nesting five stories up flew away.

Bron-Char rubbed his ears. "What was that, lass?"

"I SAID, CHRI--"

"DON'T say it again! We heard you," Minn-Erva snapped. "Now what exactly does that mean?"

"I was realizing that it's basically December and it's after Halloween and Thanksgiving and the days are short and cold. That means it's time for Christmas. Another Haladay on Hala!"

"Ooh. Really?" asked Korath. A small cone of snow was sitting on his head for some reason.

"Okay, is every single episode going to be about you forcing us to celebrate a made-up holiday?" asked Minn-Erva with annoyance.

At that moment, the fourth wall of Att-Lass's shed completely shattered. "Oh man..." he mumbled.

Vers looked between the two of them. "No, it's not." She then pulled everyone into the Helion so they could be warm.